BE OF GOOD CHEER; I HAVE OVERCOME THE WORLD

In this life, there are many obstacles that confront us on a regular basis.  Some are simply small irritants that we all must deal with like the kids spilling chocolate milk on the new carpet, or getting a flat tire on the way to work.  Others seem larger than life like losing a loved one, or being fired from a job.  Others still test the limits of our faith like being wrongfully accused, being persecuted for our faith, or being sorely tempted to sin.  All of these things may seem like detours on the path of life, but in truth they are the very things that can help us to live a more abundant life - one that is lived through the grace of God and not by our own feeble attempts to overcome.  

The Apostle Paul went so far as to say, "I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong." (2 Corinthians 12:10 NIV)  Delighting in our hardships may seem like a stretch for most folks, but the key is trusting and believing that all things are working together for an ultimate good which God Himself has in mind for us.  No, that doesn't mean everything that happens to us is good, but it does mean that God is able to use every experience in our life - the good and the bad - to work something glorious.  We are a work in progress - a lump of clay on the wheel of life.  The Master Potter is molding us into vessels of honor that can be used in His service.  The Lord has said, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." (2 Corinthians 12:9)

We are all familiar with the story of David and Goliath.  The Israelites were at war with the Philistines, but the Philistines had a mega-weapon that they sent out on the field of battle to challenge the Jews.  His name was Goliath the Gittite and he was 10 feet tall.  He taunted the warriors of Israel and dared them to send one man out to fight him.  If that man could defeat Goliath, than the whole Philistine army would surrender, but if Goliath prevailed, then Israel would become slaves to the Philistine nation.  The Bible says that when Israel heard Goliath's words, "They lost their courage and were terrified." (1 Samuel 17:11 KJV_2011)  It was only when the young man David showed up that things changed.  He also heard Goliath's words, but they made him indignant that this man would so defy God's armies.  Armed with just a shepherd's sling and five smooth stones that he had gathered out of a brook, David marched out to confront Goliath and killed him with just one of the stones. 

 

This story illustrates the power of faith over the obstacles that we face in life.  We all have what seems like giants that we face, but God has said, "Whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world — our faith.  Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?" (1 John 5:4,5 NKJV)  We are much like the men of Israel in this story.  We see the giants in our lives, we hear their taunts, and we lose our courage and are terrified.  In our own strength we are no match for giants!  We have a Hero, however.  Just like David's victory over the giant became a victory for all of Israel, so has Christ Jesus defeated our enemies for us, so that His victory has become our victory!  If we can only learn to apply this lesson to every obstacle that we encounter in our lifetime, we will begin to see that Christ has already conquered our every foe, and therefore we are able to overcome the world and all that it throws at us.

 

What of the other 4 smooth stones, though?

 

Years later, after David had become king of Israel, there was an account that was recorded in the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel.  In five short verses we are told the rest of the story.

 

4)  "In the course of time, war broke out with the Philistines, at Gezer. At that time Sibbecai the Hushathite killed Sippai, one of the descendants of the Rephaites, and the Philistines were subjugated.

5)  In another battle with the Philistines, Elhanan son of Jair killed Lahmi the brother of Goliath the Gittite, who had a spear with a shaft like a weaver’s rod.

6)  In still another battle, which took place at Gath, there was a huge man with six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot—twenty-four in all. He also was descended from Rapha.

7)  When he taunted Israel, Jonathan son of Shimea, David’s brother, killed him.

8)  These were descendants of Rapha in Gath, and they fell at the hands of David and his men."  (1 Chronicles 20:4-8 NIV)

 

As it turns out, Goliath had four other relatives who were also giants and warriors.  David's followers, instead of losing their courage and being terrified like when they were confronted by Goliath, were now bold in their faith and were able to defeat these additional giants themselves.  The difference was that David had set the example of faith and courage under pressure, and proven that God defends those who put their trust in Him, and David's men's hearts were stirred to action by what they saw in their commander.  Without David's action and obedience to the faith, none of it could have happened, though.  For this reason, David also is given credit in verse 8 for the victories of his mighty men.  Without his victory, theirs would not have been.  And God foreseeing all of this, had David collect his 5 smooth stones.  One representing Goliath's defeat, and four others which represented the defeat of the other four giants.  This tells me that Jesus has a stone with the name of every foe I will ever face on it!  My Commander, my King, and my Lord has already done it, and now my faith and courage are stirred to believe that I can now face my giants and see them fall by the power of the Lord!  

 

There will always be giants, but I can have hope knowing that Jesus has foreseen them all and conquered them.  After all, He has said, "These things I have spoken unto you, that in Me ye might have peace.  In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." (John 16:33 KJV)